Bronx murder trial continues

Johannesburg - The trial of four men accused of killing Bruno Bronn, the owner of the gay night club The Bronx, was expected to resume in the Cape Town Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Prosecutor Johan Swart told the court on Tuesday one of the accused, Achmat Toffa, 35, who was applying for bail, had intimidated witnesses.

Investigating officer Sergeant Mervyn Bezuidenhout said the State had a strong case against Toffa and his three co-accused, and he feared Toffa would have free reign to intimidate or interfere with witnesses if released.

Toffa, Johan Frederick Coetzer, 36, Fareez Allie, 29, and Kurt Erispe, 32, are charged with murdering Bronn at his Green Point home on February 7. They are also charged with robbery with aggravating circumstances. All except Toffa are out on bail.

Bezuidenhout said since Coetzer's release, he had received threatening phone calls from Toffa.

In a sworn statement handed to the court, Coetzer said he received a phone call in which Toffa told him he would be shot dead if he told the truth during the trial. Toffa also allegedly told Coetzer he had already made contact with other witnesses who would testify in accordance with Toffa's instructions.

Toffa's attorney William Booth told the court the disclosures had taken him by surprise and that he needed a transcript of the cellphone call from Toffa to Coetzer.